The index published in the Economic Freedom of the World (EFW) covers two very
distinct eras in South African history. The transition from the apartheid era to the
“new South Africa” became a fact in 1994 after years of achievement, uncertainty,
conflict, and negotiation. Neither of the two eras proceeded uniformly: each produced
manifestations of the natures of the parties that dominated each era. Both
of those parties, at some time and to some extent, expanded government power
when it suited them. What differed was the underlying culture and philosophical
justification that shaped the respect for law and the limits on the extent and directions
in which the power was expanded. Another difference is that the party of
one era could learn from the experience of the one that came before.